TYPES OF WORKOUTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND FITNESS LEVELS

Those who exercise regularly might rely on the same workout due to it being comfortable and routine. But it’s important to utilize several workouts to attain and sustain positive results through physical activity.

With that said, here are three types of workouts that can help you improve your overall health and fitness levels.

1. Endurance Training

Endurance exercise, also known as aerobic exercise, helps develop stamina. It can also improve the functioning of the heart and lungs. Another benefit of endurance exercise is an increase in the body’s metabolic rate, which helps a person burn calories long after their workout is complete and assist in a person’s body-reshaping efforts.

Endurance exercise not only boosts a person’s physical health — it might also increase mental functioning. When a person performs an endurance exercise, their brain releases endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain reliever and feel-good hormone. According to the study “Effects of Exercise,” conducted by Dinas, Flouris and Koutedakis, those who participated in endurance exercise experienced a lower instance of developing symptoms of depression thanks to experienced elevated levels of endorphin released during and after activity.

2. Strength Training

Strength training, also known as resistance training, causes contractions of the muscles via external resistance. The resistance can come from using barbells, dumbbells, resistance bands, strength machines or a person’s own body weight.

Strength training forms tiny, microscopic tears in a person’s muscles. As the tears heal the muscles repair themselves with new muscle tissue. By developing new muscle tissue, an individual can improve their aesthetic appearance and transform their physique to make it leaner and more toned.

3. Static Stretching

As we age, our muscles become inflexible and taut. To combat muscle inflexibility, static stretching is recommended. Benefits of static stretching include enhanced range of motion, stronger joints, better physical performance while playing sports and a decrease in pain throughout the body.

Static stretching might also help a person relax and lower cortisol levels, which can decrease a person’s stress levels and also lower a person’s overall body fat percentage. Static stretching can be performed before or after exercise to lengthen and improve the body’s flexibility. Although stretching might seem like a passive activity, it is wise to warm up before stretching to promote blood flow to the muscles and to reduce the risk of muscle injury. Static stretching can come in the form of toe-touches, head extension and head flexion and also by way of a few yoga poses.